BY UN ENVIRONMENT
Driving through the rolling hills and farming villages of
western Kenya’s Kakamega County, it’s apparent why the region is known as the
country’s green jewel. Agriculture is the most visible industry, and the
primary source of jobs. But off the main roads, hidden out of sight, is a
growing industry: small-scale, informal gold mining.
Problems abound with these unregulated worksites which
release toxins such as mercury and cyanide into the environment.But jobs are
scarce in Kakamega, a county where over 800,000 people live below the poverty
line. When it comes to making a living, the mine workers – many of whom risk
their lives underground or handle mercury every day – have few other options.
This conflict, between health, environmental protection and
economic opportunity is not just limited to Kenya, but playing out on a broader
scale in countries around the world.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining, or ASGM, is a
controversial but important global industry and vital source of livelihoods
which is often overlooked, or overshadowed, by large-scale projects. While
these mines are small, they are significant contributors to local development
and the global gold market.
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| such artisan who works inthe gold mining they dont use any protective gears thus exposing their live Into danger |
Of all the gold extracted around the world each year, 15 per
cent comes from small-scale mines. Ninety per cent of the global gold mining workforce,
around 10 to 15 million people, works in ASGM. In turn, these workers
indirectly support over 100 million people, by injecting cash into rural
economies.
But poor practices at these mines create numerous health and
environmental problems and of particular importance are those related to
mercury. Mercury use, and its effects, has in recent years received more
attention from the global community. In August 2017, the Minamata Convention
which aims to protect humans and the environment from the harmful effects of
mercury, entered into force.
This international treaty, the result of years of
cooperation and negotiation between almost 140 countries, encourages
country-specific plans that phase out unsafe practices while allowing people to
benefit from responsible mining.
Back at the informal mine in Kakamega, inefficient and
dangerous practices are seen at every stage of the mining process. The area bears
more semblances to a village rather than a worksite. Tin-roof houses and
businesses that cater to the workers are clustered around the mine while
children run around everywhere. One can’t escape the deafening noises from rock
crushers and a pump that is emptying the flooded mine.
A worker shovels leftover tailings out of a pit, which likely contains mercury or cyanide. Despite the health risks, mining is often the most viable livelihood for those involved. (Duncan Moore/UN Environment)
But besides this handful of machines most of the work is
done by hand. The ground ore is brought into contact with mercury in large mud
pits, where miners work without gloves to extract the gold. The mercury is then
separated from the gold using wood fires, a technique known as open burning in
which the mercury vapourizes, leaving the gold in a crucible.
Jacob Ochungo, a mechanic at the mine, acknowledges there
are issues with how they extract gold, but counters that people have few
options and not enough help from the government. “We think about the problems.
But earning a living becomes more important than taking care of the
environment,” he says.
“It would be good if the government could regulate sales so
we could receive a fair price and also ensure that people do not live and mine
in the same place. But employment is scarce, so this is the only way these
people can earn a living.”
These ineffective and outdated techniques for extracting
gold, described in the Minamata Convention as “worst practices”, have a range
of negative impacts on people and the environment. At many small-scale sites,
practices such as whole ore amalgamation and open burning are the norm.
Compared with more refined techniques, these methods recover much less gold,
damage worker health and release large amounts of toxins into the environment.
Consequently, ASGM is the world's largest source of mercury pollution.
In some instances, workers add cyanide to the amalgamation
tailings to extract more gold, which combines with mercury to create toxic
compounds. While mining as a whole always impacts the environment, lack of
regulation at small-scale and informal mines means that the effects can be
exacerbated, directly harming those involved in the industry.
Less than a year after the Minamata Convention came into
force, 32 countries have already begun work on their national action plans to
counter mercury pollution. The most tangible benefit so far has been engagement
in field research, which is helping governments understand the situation on the
ground. Historically, lack of data on the often-informal sector has prevented
countries from keeping tabs on the industry.
In Kenya, the UN is also financing projects to improve the
small-scale mining sector. Over $4 million from the Global Environment Facility
is being used to teach best practices, help miners access financing and to move
towards mercury-free mining.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining will no doubt continue
to be an important source of livelihoods in the developing world. But while
some environmental degradation is inevitable, it’s important to find a balance
and minimize harm to people and the planet.
